Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Electric Vehicle Lithium Battery

What truly sets an electric car apart from a petrol or diesel model? The answer lies under the hood - in the battery. But what exactly is meant by terms like “battery size” or “battery capacity”? And how long does an EV battery truly last?

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Below, we’ll unpack all you need to know about this groundbreaking tech that’s changing our world for the better.

Jump to:

• How do electric car batteries work?
• EV battery capacity and sizes
• What is the average EV battery capacity in the UK?
• Finding your ideal EV battery capacity
• How long do EV batteries last?
• Can EV batteries be recycled or repurposed?

Instead of burning fuel, electric cars rely on a lithium-ion battery pack. Although it may look like a single unit, it’s actually made up of thousands of individual cells, all working together to power the electric motor that drives the wheels.

As you drive, the battery releases energy, sending power to the motor. Then, when you plug into a charger (whether at home, work, or a public charging station) the process reverses, and the battery recharges, ready for your next journey.

Over time, continuous use gradually reduces the battery’s maximum capacity (a lot like a smartphone). However, modern EVs are designed to retain most of their capacity for at least a decade of typical driving, so you can expect reliable performance for many years before any significant drop-off occurs.

When we talk about “EV battery capacity” or “EV battery sizes,” we’re referring to how much energy the battery can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

But why do these matter to an EV owner? Or someone considering an EV? Well, here’s why:

1. Range - generally, the larger the kWh, the further you can drive on a single charge. A smaller battery of around 28 kWh might offer around 100-120 miles of range, while a bigger 100+ kWh pack can exceed 300 miles.
2. Cost - Batteries can be one of the most expensive parts of an EV, so larger-capacity packs can push up the car’s purchase price or monthly lease cost. That said, as tech advances, prices are gradually coming down, making bigger-battery EVs more accessible.
3. Charging speed and time - Larger batteries store more energy and may take a bit longer to fully charge on a standard 7kW home charger. However, rapid chargers can significantly shorten that wait - so the actual charging experience might still be quite manageable, even with a large-capacity battery.

Most electric vehicles in the UK range from 20 kWh at the smaller end to over 100 kWh at the top end. But if you’re curious about the sweet spot for the majority of drivers, 40-60 kWh is very common. This capacity bracket typically yields 150-250 miles per charge - enough for day-to-day commutes and weekend trips without a sky-high price.

Think about how you plan to use your EV. If your daily driving is more local, you may not need a big 70+ kWh pack. But if you’re a road-tripper or just want peace of mind, opting for a larger EV battery capacity could be worth the investment.

Choosing the right EV battery size or EV battery capacity depends on your personal needs and driving habits.

Some good things to consider, include:

• Lifestyle - if you rarely drive more than 20-40 miles per day and have easy charging access, a smaller (cheaper) battery may be sufficient.
• Budget - bigger batteries cost more. If you value extended-range or long road trips, the extra expense might be worth it.
• Leasing vs. buying - Unsure about future battery tech? A personal car lease lets you upgrade to newer models every few years, so you’ll stay on top of the latest innovations without the long-term commitment.

Worried about forking out for a new battery every few years? Not to worry. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs commonly last around 10 years, and many survive for 15-20 years before replacement becomes necessary. You’ll also find most manufacturers offering 8-year or 100,000-mile warranties, giving you peace of mind that your EV’s battery capacity won’t plummet overnight.

As battery technology advances, degradation rates (where the battery loses a bit of its maximum capacity each year) continue to improve, meaning both smaller and larger battery packs stay robust for the majority of an EV’s life.

A common question about EV batteries; is what happens when the battery no longer holds enough charge for daily driving. Luckily, the UK is evolving quickly in terms of recycling and repurposing. And EV batteries are either being recycled or reused for energy storage.

Electric cars all have big battery packs, of course. That’s what powers the car, and the size of the battery directly affects the range that you can drive in between charges. 

However, you may have noticed that some electric cars are now arriving with lithium-iron phosphate - more commonly known as ‘LFP’ - batteries. This is a different sort of battery chemistry to the lithium-ion NMC batteries that are still the most common type of battery in electric cars. 

It’s not so much a case of which one’s best, though. It’s more a case that both are great, and have different benefits. Here’s everything you need to know about these two different kinds of electric car batteries: 

Lithium-ion NMC

Pros

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• More range from a lighter battery
• Faster charging speeds

Cons

• Expensive to produce
• Relies on hard-to-source metals

This is the type of battery that has been used in most electric cars, right the way back to the original Nissan Leaf that arrived in . Often referred to as li-ion, the ‘NMC’ part references the nickel, manganese and cobalt that are the main metals used in the battery chemistry. There are, of course, many different takes on this lithium-ion NMC battery chemistry from different manufacturers. But, ultimately, it’s all the same basic battery chemistry, and it’s evolved and improved a lot over the last decade and more. 

Just look at the Renault Zoe, which uses lithium-ion NMC batteries. When it arrived in , Renault could only fit in a 22kWh battery pack, which weighed 280kg and provided a real-world range of around 80- to 90 miles. By the time it went off sale, the batteries had become smaller and more efficient, so Renault has managed to squeeze in a 52kWh li-ion battery into the same small car, for a real-world range of 200-220 miles. And because the battery tech has improved so much, it only weighed 30kg more than that original 22kWh pack.

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This is the benefit of lithium-ion NMC batteries, which are very energy dense. Basically, they hold a lot of energy and deliver the best possible driving range per kilogram of battery. 

However, they’re expensive to produce and rely on a number of metals that are hard to source, which makes them environmentally very damaging, not to mention expensive. It’s also best to keep li-ion NMC batteries functioning between 20- and 80% state of charge on a routine basis, as charging to 100% every day or letting the battery run right down to below 10%, can speed up the battery degradation. 

Having said that, the majority of modern electric cars use this lithium-ion battery technology, and it has proven to be very durable. A lithium-ion NMC battery will very likely outlive the car itself, and (in average daily use) will lose around 10- to 15% of its performance every 10 years and 100,000 miles. Just check out our video on a 260,000 mile Tesla Model Y for an example of a brilliant high-mileage EV!

Lithium-iron phosphate LFP

Pros​

• Cheaper to produce
• Relies on more common metals

Cons

• Heavier than li-ion NMC
• Slower to charge in very cold weather

This is the other common battery technology that you find in electric cars. You may also see them described as lithium-ferro phosphate, or as lithium-iron phosphate, but it’s basically different names for much the same ‘LFP’ battery chemistry.  

It’s used in the shorter-range versions of the MG4, Volvo EX30 and Tesla Model 3, as well as in the Dacia Spring, Citroen e-C3 and in all BYD models. It’s actually not new technology at all; LFP batteries have been in widespread use in plant machinery and other commercial installations for much longer than lithium-ion NMC batteries have been in electric cars. 

The good thing about LFP batteries is that they’re cheaper to produce than lithium-ion NMC, and they use more widely accessible metals. They don’t use cobalt at all, which is one of the rarer and more environmentally damaging metals to source, so reducing dependance on it is only ever a good thing. 

The downside is that LFP batteries are less energy-dense than lithium-ion NMC batteries, meaning that they don’t typically deliver as much range per kilogram of battery. This is why LFP batteries are generally used in more affordable, and shorter range electric cars. 

The only other downside to LFP batteries is that their charging speeds are more affected by very cold weather. So, if it’s freezing temperatures and you need to rapid charge your LFP electric car, you may find that it takes longer than usual.

However, it’s worth pointing out that BYD’s progress with LFP batteries shows that the technology may become appropriate for longer range cars, too. After all, BYD’s patented ‘Blade’ LFP batteries – which have a different cell layout to any other LFP battery – deliver similar range per kWh of battery to rival cars with lithium-ion NMC batteries. So, watch this space when it comes to LFP batteries, because they’re becoming even more widely used in electric cars, especially with new brands such as Omoda, Leapmotor, XPeng and others. 

And that’s no bad thing, as it's great to reduce our dependence on metals like cobalt, and LFP batteries have a good reputation for durability and longevity. In fact, research shows that LFP batteries tolerate repeated rapid charging better than lithium-ion NMC, and are less sensitive to being fully charged and discharged. Tesla even recommends that the LFP-powered Model 3 is charged to 100% at least once a week, for the health of the battery. 

You can expect an LFP battery to retain similar – if not better – lifetime performance and longevity to a lithium-ion NMC battery. 

Conclusion

Basically, you don't need to worry about either of these mainstream battery types - whether you're buying used or new. Both offer advantages, and are well established, tried-and-tested technologies. Just try to make sure that the car you're considering has got enough real-world range to cover your daily needs even after the battery has degraded a little over time (a range loss of roughly 1.5 - 2% each year is fairly typical regardless of the battery type), and you'll be set for decades to come.

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